Unai Etxebarria Loaned To SD Leioa For The 2017-2018 Season

Just like the first team, Bilbao Athletic are hard at work preparing for their upcoming season under a new manager. Gaizka Garitano took the reigns following the promotion of Kuko Ziganda, but the Katxorros still have the same goal of fighting for promotion to the Segunda. Currently the squad is a bit overbooked and Garitano has been working on trimming it down ahead of the new campaign. On Tuesday the club announced the first of the departures.

Goalkeeper Unai Etxebarria has officially been loaned to SD Leioa where he is expected to feature as the starter. Additionally, Athletic also announced that winger Oier Sarriegi had left the club and will now look for a new home.

Etxebarria joined Lezama in 2013 before moving to Bermeo on loan in 2015. After returning, he spent all of last year as the backup keeper at Bilbao Athletic where he made a total of 9 appearances. The 20-year-old has shown a lot of promise but needs to play regularly as he pursues a chance at the first team. Right now Kepa Arrizabalaga, Iago Herrerin, Alex Remiro, and Unai Simon all stand in his way.

Sarriegi joined CD Basconia from Antiguoko back in 2015 but has struggled to earn a regular place in the team. After loan spells at Leioa and Zamudio it has become clear that right now he just doesn’t have the chance to improve his situation at Lezama. Now that he is a free agent and can sign anywhere he will likely join a club where he can be a regular contributor. The 20-year-old winger may have left Lezama but there is always hope that Katxorros will one day return.